West Bromwich man who hit his ex with glass is spared prison

Trouble flared after Callam Knight confronted Sharon Furber in the beer garden of the Bellwether pub in Walsall Street, Wednesbury, after sending her an offensive text message on June 24, a judge heard.

“Neither had expected to see the other there but he went uninvited to the table where she was with her female friends,” Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

“She did not see what happened next but felt the injury. He turned away before turning back to throw the contents of his glass over her and, as he did so, the glass hit her in the face.”

Knight, of Heronville Road, West Bromwich, left after the blow cut her lip, leaving a wound that required stitches and is likely to scar her for life. He was arrested the following day and told police: “It was a moment of madness.”

The three-year relationship had been ended by Miss Furber who complained of abuse and controlling behaviour from him, the court was told.

In a victim impact statement she told of her shock and how the event had knocked her confidence when going out. But they have a daughter to care for and she was ‘not convinced’ that an immediate custodial sentence would help the situation. She also declined to ask for a restraining order.

Recorder Peter Ievins told Knight: "Your partner put up with your nasty controlling, violent behaviour for a number of years until your relationship broke down.

Suspended

"Then, for no reason, you threw a drink into her face cutting her lip with the glass and giving her a life long scar. People who do that can, and do, go to prison.

"The harm you caused was serious and life long but I have suspended the sentence because there is a way to teach you how to treat women properly."

Mr Curtis Myrie, defending, said: “He is ashamed and apologises for what he has done. He accepts full responsibility for what happened but it was totally out of character.

“The offence occurred because of underlying factors which need addressing to reduce his risk to future partners. A short-term prison sentence will detain him but not confront these issues.”

Knight pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was given an 18-month prison term suspended for two years during which he will attend a rehabilitation course. He was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 towards the prosecution costs.